Wildlife

A group of five mule deer congregate at Mountain View Cemetery in Longmont on Thursday, April 15, 2004. Longmont animal control officer Robin Breffle said the number of deer in Longmont has increased in recent years. (Richard M. Hackett)

Gulls gather on the swim platform at Union Reservoir in Longmont on Monday afternoon, September 13, 2004. The weather forecast calls for mostly sunny conditions throughout the week. (Richard M. Hackett)

Unchanged in more than eight decades, the blue heron nesting area, that has been a part of Meadow Vale Farm for over a century, is between Weld County Road 5 1/2 and 7. The Colorado Department of Wildlife states that it is the largest heron rookery in Colorado. Located adjacent to the Saint Vrain River and surrounded by several hundred acres of open space, the legacy is preserved and protected by Colorado State Parks. Picture taken Friday, February 18, 2005. (Hunter McRae)

A black bear sits on a ledge off U.S. Highway 36 in Lyons on Wednesday, May 4, 2005. Several times since late April, the black bear has taken to people-watching near the U-Pump-It in Lyons. Division of Wildlife officials say the bear, which was removed from the Ft. Collins area several years ago and relocated north of Rocky Mountain National Park, poses little danger to humans. Area DOW officer Windi Lassiter said people who stop to gawk are more in danger from other drivers than the bear, believed to be a female. "We are leaving the bear alone," Lassiter said. "We are hoping people will be safe while watching. The biggest danger here is the traffic." Lassiter reminded people that feeding bears is illegal. (Richard M. Hackett)

A black bear peers down from a tree in the LaVista Business Park in the 7100 block of Monarch Road just west of the Diagonal Highway in Niwot on Thursday, May 19, 2005. The bear was in a tree for hours before being tranquilized by Division of Wildlife officers, then ran around the business park for few minutes before succumbing to the tranquilizer. The female bear, who is about 2 years old, was tagged and taken away for release. (Richard M. Hackett)

A Bald eagle takes flight from its roost in a tree off St Vrain Road near 59th St, west of Longmont Sunday afternoon December 18, 2005. Another Bald eagle was also spotted in a nearby tree. (Photo by Patrick Kramer/Daily Times-Call)

An elk takes a moment to chew while grazing in the woods off of U.S. highway 36 near Estes Park on Thursday, February 16, 2006. ***Insert weather forecast here***(Longmont Daily Times-Call, Kristin Goode)

A wild turkey gives residents of Marshall Place a show Tuesday afternoon, April 11, 2006 as it flys from rooftop to rooftop. A half dozen kids, along with a few adults, watched the bird for about an hour and a half. Naomi Thomas spotted the bird at about 6 p.m., just as she sat down to watch television. The bird was last spotted making its way west, dodging both cars traveling along Martin Street and the occasional dog. (The Daily Times-Call, Joshua Buck)

Prairie dogs inhabit some fields in Boulder's Tom Watson Park Thursday June 8, 2006. The city of Boulder is considering exterminating the prairie dogs in its park because they are causing damage to the parks facilities.(Lewis Geyer/The Daily Times-Call)

A bull Elk sits in a field n Moraine Park in Rocky Mountain National Park, Friday, September 15, 2006. The Elk mating season also called the rut is currently in progress and will last through October. (Erin McCracken, Daily Times-Call)

A pelican relaxes on Highland Lake during the cool of evening, June 5, 2006.

(Daily Times-Call, Bradley Wakoff)

20070605_HIGHLANDLAKE_CHURCH

A pelican swims across the reflection of a sunset on Highland Lake, June 5, 2006.

(Daily Times-Call, Bradley Wakoff)

20070613_MOOSE_WILDLIFE

A young bull moose grazes along the St. Vrain River east of Longmont, Colo., on Wednesday, June 13, 2007. Local residents first spotted a moose in the city last week. Colorado Division of Wildlife spokeswoman Jennifer Churchill said wildlife officers will allow the moose to try to make its own way out of the city and back into more natural territory, which includes Rocky Mountain National Park. She said anyone who spots the moose should avoid it because moose can be dangerous to humans. (Daily Times-Call, Richard M. Hackett)